Unusual Watermark In Australian KGV Margin

jimjamtwo, I think it is part of the "C" from COLONIES. Remember, from the back, you are looking at the reverse of the correct-reading image shown by rod.

HoosRec, you are correct. The Victoria Gambia issues like many Victorian issues often show the sheet watermark in part or even without the "expected" watermark.

The watermark in the opening scan is known by KGV collectors as Single Watermark but Roo collectors call it Second Watermark after its designation as Type 2 watermark by ACSC. The marginal markings of this watermark are "COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA" and "POSTAGE" as previously mentioned.

Crown Agent and Crown Colony papers were never used in the Federal Period in Australia and I cannot recall these ever being used by the Australian colonies but you would need a pre-federation expert to confirm this.

Regards
Frank

Here is a copy of the layout of a roo full sheet taken from The Kangaroo Issues by H Dormer Legge



This is a full sheet of 480-on which was four plates clamped together (each plate contained 2 panes of sixty). It was used for printing the early 1d Roos in this configuration. For later 1d and other low values sheets were cut down the middle and printed 240-on from 2 plates. The higher value bi-colour issues were printed 120-on from one plate of 2 panes.

The layout of the KGV paper with second watermark or single watermark was the same.

By using this information it is possible to plate some stamps with marginal watermarks according to the letter showing. This layout applies only to the first, second and third watermarks. Later watermarks did not show marginal markings.

First and third watermark paper was designed for use with the Roos. Second watermark paper was slightly larger and designed for use with KGV. It was trimmed and used for limited numbers of Roos when delivery of the third watermark paper was delayed.

Regards
Frank

Jimjamtwo,

Your stamp is from Electro 15, Upper left position, in use from May 1924 - January 1925.

The letters you can see are the 'OS' from 'POSTAGE', reading upwards on the left pane as per the watermark configuration shown above by langtounlad.

The word 'POSTAGE' was adjacent to the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th rows.

The position of your stamp is 15L31 (Electro 15, left pane, first stamp in the 6th row).

Identifiable flaws are the small slice from the top of the left frame and slope at the left of the upper frame, as well as the missing left end of the shading line behind the emu's head.

Thanks for that! I doubt I still have the stamp, though!